Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Auction Candlesticks Before and After

So, the auction was a learning experience. We spent about 3 1/2 cold hours standing and waiting and bidding and losing until finally, I purchased a small lot consisting of a pair of resin candlesticks, a sun dial, a pair of Sad irons and a tray which is the thing I was after.

Here is a picture of one of the naked candlesticks. It is only wearing its undies for this photo. Please forgive its lack of modesty.

Before

Here is the pair. One is wearing only a coat of French Country Grey chalk paint by Annie Sloan and a coat of Clear Wax. The other is wearing the same and a coat of Dark Wax on top.

In this image, some of the Dark Wax has been rubbed off with an old t shirt with some clear wax on it. See how the sculpted bits are highlighted?

After

Here is the happy pair, all clothed similarly and hanging out where they are going to live from now on, atop a provençal runner purchased in Avignon in 2003, in the dining room. Beeswax candles are from my home town where the honey bee is queen.

Please note, these are not my favorite candlesticks in the whole world but, they came with something I really wanted... a tray. Color is lighter than appears on this photo given that there isn't a lot of natural light in the dining room.
I've fallen in lust love with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I'm feel like painting everything in sight but for now, my little candlesticks are making me happy and proud to be doing something with my hands other than marking assignments... sigh.

I've had a dream come true and I believe you can too. Socrates believed that an unexamined life is not worth living. I believe that we sculpt the life that we want consciously or not. When we become conscious, our choices become richer and more life-enhancing.